The top 3 Sustainable packaging trends for 2022
As we head into 2022, sustainability is once again high on the list of priorities for many companies.
One way in which a company can take a step down the path of sustainability is to change its packaging. This can be a small change but have big consequences for a brand.
If you’re thinking of adopting sustainable packaging in the coming year, then these three trends might point you in the right direction.
What is sustainable packaging?
Ok, first of all, let’s nail down what sustainable packaging actually is.
Some people might simply think it’s packaging that can be recycled once it’s used. This is only one aspect of a sustainable lifecycle.
Sustainable packaging fits into the circular economy ethos, namely that all materials and products in society are used and circulated among people for as long as possible, in an environmentally safe, effective, and fair manner.
From design to end-of-life, every aspect of the packaging must be thought about carefully, from sourcing the materials used to make the package, right through to what happens to it after it does its job.
In an ideal world, a company’s sustainable packaging lasts for as long as possible, to be reused or upcycled as much as possible, and doesn’t harm the Earth to make, utilize or dispose of.
Eco-friendly packaging
Eco-friendly packaging isn’t anything new, but the advancements made in recent years make it a more affordable solution for many businesses.
Biodegradable packaging – that is packaging that decomposes – is becoming more and more popular as a method for product delivery.
As a direct opposite to plastics or glass, biodegradable material has a genuine appeal to many who wish to make a difference in their shopping habits.
Eco-friendly packaging not only protects the environment but will help your brand stand out with a positive message.
Minimalism packaging
More of a design trend than a sustainable one, minimalist design has always been a favourite by some brands over the decades.
But in today’s digital era, where we live in a world of information overload, minimalism has found a new life.
When it comes to sustainable packaging, minimalism helps by simply using less of everything.
Less ink when it comes to printing, less cardboard for the box, less material to go inside… multiply that by hundreds or thousands of packages and it all adds up.
Ecommerce packaging
It would be difficult to talk about moving into the next year without talking about the previous one.
Covid-19 arrived on the scene in 2020 but continued to affect everything in 2021, especially how we shop.
Ordering from home has become the norm, and for businesses used to sending out products to stores en masse, it was a drastic change in policy to shift to e-commerce to survive.
Sending a package direct to a customer without having to go through a shop gives opportunities when it comes to packaging.
First of all, you can personalize it, creating a connection with your customer and leaving a lasting impression.
Secondly, it’s an opportunity to review your packaging and make it more sustainable.
The packaging itself doesn’t even have to change, but you can add information to it to help the consumer.
Simple instructions, website addresses or QR codes can be added to help show people how to reuse, upcycle or dispose of the packaging correctly.
Talk to us about sustainable packaging
There is definitely a green revolution taking place, albeit a slow one.
It is however gaining momentum, with big-name brands and corporations moving to a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly path.
For all brands, big and small, sustainable packaging is one area they can usually improve in.
We have helped hundreds of businesses change over the five decades we’ve been working in this industry, and a move to a greener world is just another change we’ll help our clients deal with.
There are big changes ahead on the road to a circular economy, and sustainable packaging is just a small part of it. It’s a complex area, but when handled correctly, a brand can come out on top in every way.
If you would like to make the move to more eco-friendly packaging, then please contact us today. Our friendly and experienced team will be happy to help in any way they can, especially when it comes to sustainable packaging.